Ranking the 7 Most Unwanted Records in Premier League History

Every player embarking on a Premier League career aspires to leave a mark in history.

Alan Shearer etched his name into the record books with an unparalleled 260 goals, and Ryan Giggs notched 162 assists, boasting 13 titles—the most successes of any player.

Yet, there's always the looming possibility of being remembered for less favourable achievements.

Sports Brief has examined the seven most undesirable records in the Premier League's history.

Unwanted records in Premier League history

Most offsides

Former Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor owns the rather unfortunate distinction of holding the Premier League's all-time record for the highest number of offsides, tallying up to 328.

One might expect a player to improve at staying onside after surpassing the 50-offside mark, but accumulating 328 offside calls is a remarkable feat.

Despite his struggle to stay in line with the defensive line, Adebayor still showcased his goal-scoring prowess, finding the back of the net 97 times in 241 Premier League appearances.

Quickest red card

Keith Gillespie, formerly of Sheffield United, clinches the title for the fastest red card in the league's history, lasting a mere 12 seconds on the field.

The abrupt receiving of the red mist occurred shortly after his introduction, as Gillespie impulsively swung his elbow into Stephen Hunt's face not once, but twice.

In plain view of the linesman, the referee had little option but to promptly send Gillespie off the pitch, marking one of the most extraordinary incidents witnessed on a football field.

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Most red cards

Richard Dunne, Duncan Ferguson, and Patrick Vieira share the record for the highest number of red cards in the league's history, each accumulating eight.

While Ferguson and Vieira were particularly infamous for their on-field temper, at least Dunne finds himself in the company of fellow record-holders.

Roy Keane and Vinnie Jones hold joint-second place with seven red cards, joined by Lee Cattermole and Alan Smith. Additionally, Joey Barton is notable on the list, having received six red cards during his career.

Most own goals

Richard Dunne claims this unfortunate statistic. The Irish defender served as a stalwart in Manchester City's defence for a remarkable nine years, netting 10 own goals during his tenure.

Dunne, who joined City from Everton in 2000, amassed over 200 appearances during his time at the Etihad. Scoring in one's own net 10 times is a notable feat, leaving many to ponder whether this record will ever be surpassed.

Most penalties conceded in a season

This distinctive record belongs to Richard Dunne, the Irish defender who stood as a stalwart in Manchester City's defence for an impressive nine years. Over the course of his tenure, Dunne scored 10 own goals.

Having joined City from Everton in 2000, he accumulated over 200 appearances during his time at the Etihad.

Achieving the feat of scoring in one's own net 10 times is noteworthy, prompting speculation about whether this record will ever be exceeded.

Biggest defeat

Southampton endured a humiliating 9-0 defeat at home to Leicester in 2019, while Ipswich suffered a similar fate against Manchester United in 1995, marking some of the most lopsided scorelines in Premier League history.

In the 2020/2021 season, Manchester United found themselves in another 9-0 result, with Southampton once again on the unfortunate side of the scoreline. Liverpool is also among the teams with an emphatic victory, securing a 9-0 win against Bournemouth in 2022.

Fewest points total

During the 2007/08 season, Derby County secured promotion to England's top-flight; however, their journey was marred by a dismal campaign.

Following a 2-2 draw in the opening game against Portsmouth, the club managed to win only one more game throughout the season – a 1-0 victory against Newcastle.

Ultimately, they finished at the bottom of the table with just 11 points. Kenny Miller emerged as their top scorer, registering a modest total of four league goals.